“I don’t know that it’s even bittersweet. It’s more bitter than sweet, I feel like. It’s a tough decision,” said Tony Stewart after the closure of his racing team. His path is proof of his racing passion. He ruled NASCAR in the 2000s, co-founded SHR, and expanded it into a championship-winning juggernaut that captured two titles. But in 2024, its shutdown created shockwaves across the sport. Now thriving with NHRA, where he’s enjoyed success and fan engagement, Stewart hasn’t ruled out a possible return to NASCAR.

Yet, his heart remains tied to stock car racing, making his critique all the more poignant. Smoke’s voice carries weight in the world of motorsports. A three-time NASCAR Cup Series champion with 49 career wins, he’s not just a driver but a team owner, a broadcaster, and now a successful NHRA drag racer. His recent candid remarks about NASCAR reveal a deep frustration, not with the sport itself, but with how it’s drifted from its roots, alienating the very fans who keep it alive.

Tony Stewart believes NASCAR is its own enemy

NASCAR’s struggles run deep. SHR’s closure exposed the sport’s fragile financial model, with teams like 23XI Racing pushing for better revenue splits to survive. Fans, meanwhile, face soaring ticket prices and feel increasingly sidelined. Stewart, who retired from full-time NASCAR in 2016, has seen the sport from every angle—behind the wheel, in the owner’s office, and the broadcast booth. In an interview, he had admitted missing the camaraderie of racing but not the grind. His unique perspective fuels his frustration with NASCAR’s self-inflicted wounds, from rule changes to fan neglect.

In a raw, emotional interview on Rubbin’ is Racing Podcast, Stewart laid it all bare, saying, “There’s still a ton of things every week to be excited about going to a NASCAR race. I didn’t like NASCAR when I quit driving, and I started being in the broadcast booth. I’m still a fan of NASCAR. I still like to watch NASCAR races, but I also know the inner workings of it, and I know the hurdles and roadblocks that internally NASCAR has created for itself, and that’s the part that p—– you off and frustrates you, knowing how much better it could be.”

Smoke is also livid over NASCAR’s approach to Kyle Larson’s bid to compete in the Indy 500 and Coca-Cola 600. Rather than embracing the crossover, NASCAR’s rule adjustments incensed everyone. “They’re dividing themselves from the IndyCar fans,” Stewart fumed. “The dirt track community are all Kyle Larson fans, and every time NASCAR does this, more and more dirt track fans get pissed off… They don’t have thick enough skin to listen to their own fans, their own competitors, to do the right things.” This, he argues, alienates NASCAR’s core traditionalists and dirt track loyalists who live for the sport.

Despite his critiques, Stewart’s love for NASCAR shines through. “There’s still that core base and core value of NASCAR that’s still amazing, and it’s still worth watching,” he insists. He’s not urging fans to abandon the sport—far from it. NASCAR president Steve Phelps had praised Stewart’s legacy but dodged the deeper issues. “Then, likewise, Tony Stewart (is) selling his charters. Tony is going to concentrate with Leah [Pruett] on their family and on drag racing. So, we wish Tony well. Tony is always welcome at our race tracks, as well,” Phelps said. But, what does Phelps have to say about dirt racing?

 “We want Kyle Larson to talk about NASCAR racing and dirt racing, and things that are his passion. We think he can bring his fan base from other forms of racing that he’s doing to us. And we can take our fans and bring them down to that racing as well, so we all get stronger by doing something,” he said in a media coverage in 2018. But wait! Is Phelps trying to promote dirt racing? No wonder dirt racing is the ‘grassroots of racing’! Whatever it may be, things look good for Tony Stewart.

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Tony Stewart is making it big on drag racing circuits

Smoke’s love for racing burns brighter than ever. With a career spanning over three decades, he’s conquered NASCAR, IndyCar, and dirt tracks, earning the title of motorsports’ G.O.A.T. Now, he’s carving his name into NHRA drag racing, and his journey to the NHRA Route 66 Nationals, set for May 16-18, has fans buzzing with excitement. TSR Nitro dropped a video of Stewart inviting fans to the Route 66 Nationals. Hours later, the three-time NASCAR champ reposted it, adding, “🎤 Be there!”  

“It’s hard to be upset when you’re making finals three races in a row,” Stewart said after zMAX. “We’ve still got a lot to work on, but it’s a great position to be in. We’re second in points now, and honestly, I didn’t think we’d be here this early in the season. I’m proud of the whole TSR team, Dodge, and American Rebel Light for everything they’ve done.” Following his retirement from NASCAR in 2016, Stewart didn’t stop. He dove headfirst into dirt racing, competing in sprint car competitions and taking a hands-on approach with his team, Tony Stewart Racing (TSR). In 2020, he partnered with Ray Evernham to start the SRX series, which went live in 2021. Behind the wheel of the No. 14 car, Stewart won the championship in SRX’s first season, demonstrating that he’s still a track force to be reckoned with.

NHRA came calling through his wife, Leah Pruett, a respected NHRA driver. In 2022, Stewart launched TSR Nitro, fielding Pruett and Matt Hagan as drivers while he tested the waters in NHRA Top Alcohol Dragster. His hunger for competition grew, and by 2024, he made the bold leap to NHRA Top Fuel. The move paid off. After a career-defining win at the Texas NHRA event, Stewart followed it with a third-place finish at the American Rebel Light NHRA 4-Wide Nationals in Las Vegas on April 13. At zMAX Dragway, he reached the finals again, holding strong as second in the NHRA Mission Foods Top Fuel standings.

His teammate, Matt Hagan, also shone, reaching the Funny Car finals with the second-most points. From dirt tracks to drag strips, Stewart’s relentless drive keeps him chasing victory. Will Route 66 be his next triumph? Fans are counting down the days to find out.